The First New Chronicle and Good Government

Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, an indigenous Peruvian serving in the colonial Spanish government, wrote his "First New Chronicle and Book of Good Government" between the years 1600 and 1616. In this monumental work he recorded the history of Peru from the beginning of time up to the Spanish conquest (1532-1572); he also portrayed pre-colonial Inca society in remarkably vivid detail and proposed his own remedies to the abuses of the corrupt Spanish administration. David Frye's skillful translation simultaneously captures the Biblical-to-legal flavors of Guaman Poma's manuscript and renders this notoriously difficult text into accessible, idiomatic English. Frye's Introduction places Guaman Poma and his narrative in the context of colonial Peruvian history and discusses the author's literary and linguistic innovations. A generous selection of Guaman Poma's ink drawings, maps, and a glossary of terms are also included.